Millennial Marriages: A Military Relationship

By Jarron Webster

When young military couples are faced with the prospect of separation, sometimes they jump into a marriage to avoid the pain of being apart. In Millennial Marriages: A Military Relationship, Jarron Webster explores the ins and outs of Mark and Wendy’s journey through their first years after “I do.” This means relocation as Mark is sent to multiple new bases for his job in the military, decisions about family planning, finances, and learning how to maintain trust when things get rocky. Can the couple stay true to themselves, and to each other, as they navigate the obstacle course that is a military marriage?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richter Publishing LLC
• Release date: Sep 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463768280

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Over the years, marriage has been viewed in many different lights. It now seems that marriage is something people do for multiple reasons, and coming together in harmony is harder and harder. It can be even more difficult for people serving in the military. The reality of being apart can pressure people into getting married sooner than they normally would in order to stay together.

When young people realize they are about to leave and be without the person they love, they start thinking irrationally, regardless of what advice they may be receiving from outside sources. Family, friends, and even some mentors have trouble getting through to a Millennial when they have what they consider a plan. Talking a Millennial out of a marriage is quite the challenge because, for the most part, when a Millennial has their mind made up, that’s pretty much the end of it.

In this book I am going to share with you a story about two people deeply in love, Mark and Wendy. Mark is leaving soon to his permanent duty station in the military. Neither Mark nor Wendy want to leave each other, and they’ve already been separated by basic and technical training. What decisions will be made by the couple when facing this military stigma?

1

LET’S GET MARRIED

We ain’t getting no younger, we might as well do it …

-Jagged Edge

Let’s Get Married

As the sun rises, rays of light beam through the blinds onto Wendy Smith’s face. When she opens her eyes, she immediately regrets forgetting to grab those new curtains the day before. She turns to face the other way and as soon as she settles back into the pillow, her iPhone alarm rings so loudly, she just knows her family hears it.

All right, already! Face buried in her pillow, she reaches for her phone and accidentally knocks it off the nightstand. Of course, she says. Slowly raising her head, she peeks at the floor and grabs her phone, quickly hitting stop on her alarm. She sees a text notification from Mark saying, I can’t wait to see you.

Feeling like she’s received a burst of energy from the message, Wendy flips over and texts back, I love you! Now hurry up!

After the message sends, Wendy checks her Facebook notifications. She sees that her mom commented on one of her posts and she shakes her head, saying, Why does everybody have access to social media? She scrolls down her newsfeed for a few minutes before she switches over to look at her Instagram.

Wendy! Are you up? yells her mother.

Yes, Mom, I’m up, Wendy calls back. I’ll be down in a minute.

Mrs. Smith replies, You better pick up the pace if you’re going to make class on time!

Wendy finally realizes what day it is and slips out of the bed, her warm feet touching the cold laminate flooring. She quickly slides her feet into her soft pink bunny slippers, wiggles her toes, and then she’s off to the races. While brushing her teeth, she squints her eyes a little, trying to remember if she completed all of her homework last night ...

She smiles, remembering the long conversation she and Mark had, then shrugs her shoulders at the homework attempt. She’s finding it hard to concentrate on what needs to be done for school when all she can do is think about Mark and what he’s been experiencing. She just wants him to hurry back to her so they can be together again.

Picking up a little momentum, Wendy picks out her outfit for the day a little faster than usual: a dazzling yellow sundress with white heels and a white flower hairpin to top everything off. That’s what I’m wearing later, she says to herself. Now let’s get into these scrubs and get to business. Wendy is very excited about pursuing her dream to become a nurse. She’s finally at the tail end of her schooling and is looking forward to working more hands-on during her final stages of clinicals.

Wendyyyyyy … let’s goooo! her mother screams up the stairs. I’ll leave you, and I’m not kidding!

Wendy chuckles because her mom makes the same statement regularly, but never follows through. As she walks down the stairs, sliding her hand down the smooth wooden railing, she says, You can stop yelling now, Mother; we wouldn’t want your blood pressure to get too high.

Mrs. Smith responds, Don’t ‘Mother’ me, all right? I have to try to get you to class on time while trying to get myself to work on time also.

Mom, you don’t go to work until noon, and you only work for four hours at that consignment shop you call a job.

It gets me away from your father for a few hours, so I look at it as more of a mini vacation. Since that man retired, he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

Awwww, maybe he just wants to spend time with his bestie.

If his bestie is that saw in the garage, they sure do make a lot of noise.

Mr. Smith lowers his newspaper just below his eyes so he can see the two women talking back and forth. I’m astonished at how you two are able to carry on like I’m not sitting right here.

"That’s because even when you are here, you’re not," says Mrs. Smith with a smile.

Hey, Daddy. Good morning. Wendy kisses her dad on the cheek.

Good morning, sweetie, he responds. Now, for y’all’s information, I have more than a great chance at getting this managerial job. And I’m making so much noise in there because I’m trying to help you stay afloat with your consignment shop.

"Help me?" Mrs. Smith asks.

Yes, you know my unique pieces keep your shop going.

If you say so, Mrs. Smith responds. Are you done with your plate?

Yes, dear. Thank you for breakfast, and enjoy your day.

Give me one more minute, Mom; these pancakes are everything right now, says Wendy.

Girl, you need to come on … And thank you … I did put my foot in those blueberries.

Wendy finishes her breakfast and the two women head out the door. Her mom kisses her father and they say I love you to each other.

Bye, honey. Have a great day, Mr. Smith tells Wendy.

Love you too, Dad, Wendy responds. See you later.

***

Staring out of the airport window, Mark can’t help but notice how gloomy and eerie the sky is looking. The clouds look gray and are moving very quickly. He’s not the biggest fan of flying, but is anxious to get back to Wendy. They haven’t seen each other for what seems like ages.

He turns his head to study the blue monitor, hoping his flight is on time. Wendy would not be too happy with that, he says to himself. The last thing he needs is for her to be upset